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PhD Program

Hallmarks of the Brown History doctoral program: Intimate setting, close collaboration with faculty, Brown's unique undergraduate population and curriculum, world-class scholars working in every region of the globe, and the department's committment to professionalization and teaching. Cutting edge training and preparation for jobs in a variety of educational institutions, including major research universities and teaching colleges.

Brown UniversityThe History department at Brown trains PhD students in a wide range of fields, methodologies, and regions of the globe. Its distinguished faculty work closely with graduate students, and the program fosters an intellectual community in which collaboration, intellectual breadth, and cross-field conversations are prized. Additionally, PhD students take a sequence of professionalization courses that prepare them for the rigors of teaching, research, conference presentations and professional writing.

Each year, Brown enrolls 10-12 PhD students, who function as a cohort during the first three years of the program. In the fourth year, students work in archival coections, wherever their research takes them across the globe. In the fifth year and beyond, based on that research, each student produces an original dissertation. Completion of the program typically takes 5-7 years, depending on the field, language requirements, and location of archives.